Sports09 March, 20262 min read
Four-time Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen will race Nürburgring 24 Hours in Mercedes-AMG GT3
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Max Verstappen will make his first Nürburgring 24-Hours start in May. He will drive a Mercedes-AMG GT3 sporting Red Bull livery.
Verstappen Nürburgring 24 Hours
Max Verstappen, a four-time Formula 1 champion, will compete in the Nürburgring 24-Hours endurance race in May driving a Mercedes-AMG GT3. He will share the car with Daniel Juncadella (listed as Dani Juncadella in some reports), Jules Gounon and Lucas Auer. Mathrubhumi reports he "will make his debut in the 24-hour Nürburgring Nordschleife race in May, joining a Mercedes-AMG GT3 entry painted in Red Bull livery."
“Four-time Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen will make his debut in the 24-hour Nürburgring Nordschleife race in May, joining a Mercedes-AMG GT3 entry painted in Red Bull livery.”
Sud Ouest notes that "he will compete in the 24 Hours of Nürburgring on May 14–17." The BBC confirms that "Max Verstappen... will take part in the Nürburgring 24-Hours endurance race in May, driving a Mercedes-AMG GT."
Verstappen Nürburgring preparations
Verstappen has completed the necessary GT3 licensing and has prior success at the Nürburgring. Mathrubhumi says he completed the required licensing, notched a GT3 win at the circuit, and will undertake final preparations in March.
Sud Ouest reports he is expected to appear in the NLS2 race on March 21 as preparation for the Nürburgring. The BBC notes his recent race form, saying he recently finished sixth in the season-opening Australian Grand Prix.
Nordschleife circuit descriptions
The Nordschleife is presented as a demanding, historic circuit that Verstappen called a 'special place' and a 'bucket-list' event, though the sources give different figures for the track's length. Mathrubhumi describes the track as 'a 13-mile (20.8 km) forest circuit with more than 150 corners and limited runoff' and references why F1 left the venue after Niki Lauda's 1976 crash. The BBC reports the driver said the Nürburgring Nordschleife is 15.8 miles and called it a 'special place' and a 'bucket-list item'.
“The Nordschleife is a 13-mile (20.8 km) forest circuit with more than 150 corners and limited runoff, famed for its difficulty and the reason Formula 1 stopped racing there after Niki Lauda’s 1976 crash.”
Sud Ouest underlines the event's reputation as 'one of the sport's toughest'. The sources disagree on the exact mileage quoted for the Nordschleife.
Verstappen F1 comments and entry
The announcement sits alongside Verstappen’s recent commentary on Formula 1 and his race schedule. Sud Ouest records his criticism of recent F1 regulation changes, quoting him as calling them 'Formula E on steroids'.
The BBC places the Nürburgring entry in the context of his ongoing F1 season and notes his sixth-place finish in Australia. Mathrubhumi highlights the Red Bull-liveried Mercedes entry and reports Verstappen described the Nordschleife as a long-time 'bucket-list goal'.
